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80

Ireland take their throw and make their way to the Italian 10. The ball is knocked forward and the referee sounds his whistle for the game. FULL TIME

79

Italy break along the wing after a quick turnover but the ball is passed into touch

78

The hosts building from the Italian 10 now

77

Line-out to the Irish around the mid field after the reset kick

76

Allan sends it wide

74

They look for the maul. They're held back but a some long passes sees Minozzi let loose at the edge of the pitch and he slides over the line to score a TRY

73

Italy win a throw at the 5 of the hosts after a penalty

72

Italy with some heavy carries as they enter the 22

71

The referee awards Italy a scrum around the Irish 22 after the visitors move forward following the reset

70

Carbery adds 2 more

69

Stockdale is gifted a pass in the Italy attack and makes his way straight to the opposing team try line leaving the Italian team trailing behind him. TRY

68

Scrum reset

67

Scrum to the hosts at the half way

66

Allan puts it between the sticks

65

Italy rush forward after a good break along the wing then change direction and send it in field for Gori who crawls over the line to get a second Italy TRY

64

Ireland turnover at their 5 and clear all the way to the away team 10

63

Italy with some good continuity now as they progress into the 22

62

The Italians make ground into the 10 of the hosts. The ball is kicked forward and it goes into touch

61

Italy with it after the reset. Moving it around the half way

60

Carbery adds the extras

59

Both teams fumbling for the ball amidst a sea of bodies. Stockdale manages to sneak in around the back and puts Ireland further ahead. TRY

58

Ireland win a penalty after the reset and kick into touch at the 5 of the away team

57

Allan converts his own try

55

The visitors break inside the 10 and Ireland get caught napping as Allan makes a break for the try line and tumbles over as he gets his team on he scoreboard. TRY

54

Italy try to push Ireland back after the reset kick but the ball is cleared. Italy have it and come again

53

Carbery adds the extras

52

Line-out for the hosts at the 5 of the visitors. Best shoves his team forward and breaks away along the edge to slip over for Ireland's 6th TRY

50

Ireland move it to the opposite wing, still at the 5

49

Stander powers forward after the scrum and they send a long pass out to the side. They look to squeeze in at the edge of the pitch but Italy ensure the gaps are closed

48

Scrum reset again

47

Scrum reset

46

Line-out to the hosts around the 22 of the visitors but a pass is intercepted by the referee and he gives the hosts a scrum inside the 22

45

Ireland make quick work with the reset kick and start to make their way forward again

44

Sexton adds the extras

43

They move it back to their 10 to regather themselves but Henshaw snaps up a pass that may have been too lax. He runs all the way from the 10 to the try line to put another 5 points on the board. TRY

42

Italy with a scrum early in the second half. They take their scrum and move towards the 10 of the hosts. They're shoved back but manage to hold onto the ball, now at the half way

41

The second half is underway

Half Time

40

They take their scrum and kick into touch. HALF TIME

39

The ball is lost forward in the throw and Ireland have a scrum at their 5 meter

38

Italy find themselves at the closing minutes of the half and they make it inside the 22 and win a line-out at the 5

37

Ireland secure the ball after the reset kick and clear

36

Sexton makes it 4 for 4

35

They move it about the 10 of the visitors and change the pace quickly as they unleash Earls along the wing who rushes over the line for a bonus point TRY

33

Ireland take their scrum and move forward slowly to the half way

32

Italy holding onto the ball nicely now as they enter the 10 of the hosts. The ball is lost forward in contact and Ireland have a scrum

31

Italy on the attack now at the halfway but are pushed back to their 10. They decide to kick forward

30

Ireland opt for the maul this time around and it's sent back to Sexton who lets a grubber through along the ground but it goes dead

29

Line-out taken and Ireland look to be through but the referee stops play and calls play back for another throw at the 5

28

Italy manage to hold after the scrum but Ireland win another penalty and opt for a kick into touch

26

Sexton gets it after the throw and runs it to the sticks but is stopped at the last. The referee halts play for scrum to the hosts at the Italian 5

25

Italy give away the ball after Ferrari tips a player off his feet. Penalty to the hosts and they have a line-out around the away team 10

24

The ball lost forward in contact around the half way and Italy have a scrum

23

Italy with their reset and it doesn't come to much as Ireland again have the ball in hand are progress forward to the half way

22

Sexton adds the extras

20

Aki with the help of his team is shoved forward in the maul and makes it over to score a third Ireland TRY

19

Ireland push forward after the scrum and win a throw inside the 22

18

The ball is lost forward just as Italy look to break. Scrum at their 10 to the Irish

17

Ireland take their throw and make it into the visitors' 10 but again lose out to Benvenuti

16

Ireland carry the ball back after the reset kick but give it away inside the Italian 10. The visitors run it outside of their half but also into touch

15

Sexton adds 2 more

13

Ireland have the ball again after the reset kick. They move the ball to the opposite wing after a throw in and Conor Murray finishes a move he started himself by sprinting over the line to score the second TRY

11

Sexton secures the extras

10

They move the ball along the 5 and Robbie Henshaw times his run perfectly as he dashes into space to bag the first TRY

9

The hosts win a scrum at the 5 of the Italians

8

Ireland have a throw after their initial throw. They make more ground forward into the danger zone

7

The Irish do well to keep the ball alive along the end of the pitch. The referee sounds his whistle for an Italian penalty outside the 22 now

6

Ireland kick into touch after plucking the ball from the air and have a line-out at the 10 of the visitors

5

Ireland trying to work their way into the Italian 10 but are being held back. The ball is won by the away team and booted forward

4

Scrum reset

3

The referee says knock on and Ireland have a scrum at their 10

2

Italy turnover and they break towards the opposite wing. They halted and move to the other side but the ball is passed too far forward and bounces into touch

1

Ireland with some patient build up play in the opening minutes. Italy clear from inside their 22 and Ireland have a throw at the away team 10

0

The referee sounds his whistle and we're off!

-5

The respective anthems being sung now

-10

Ireland have won 9 of the last 10 fixtures between these two sides

-15

Centre Tommaso Boni was outstanding out wide against England and he could give Ireland some trouble with his big frame. Flyhalf Tommaso Allan is a much better playmaker in the No.10 jersey than Carlo Canna. His offloads and passes unlocked the English defence on a few occasions.

-20

Jonathan Sexton proved once again that he is a match-winner and he is expected to run the show at the Aviva Stadium. Sexton's halfback partner Conor Murray is a force behind the ruck and his decision-making is world class.

-30

Welcome to the Aviva Stadium for this Six Nations contest where Ireland take on Italy

Ireland

Italy

START LINE UP

1
Jack McGrath

2
Rory Best

3
Tadhg Furlong

4
Iain Henderson

5
Devin Toner

6
Peter O'Mahony

7
Dan Leavy

8
Jack Conan

9
Conor Murray

10
Johnny Sexton

11
Jacob Stockdale

12
Bundee Aki

13
Robbie Henshaw

14
Keith Earls

15
Rob Kearney

RESERVES

16
Sean Cronin

17
Cian Healy

18
Andrew Porter

19
Quinn Roux

20
Christiaan Stander

21
Kieran Marmion

22
Joey Carbery

23
Jordan Larmour

START LINE UP

1
Nicola Quaglio

2
Lucas Bigi

3
Simone Ferrari

4
Alessandro Zanni

5
Dean Budd

6
Sebastian Negri Da Oleggio

7
Abraham Steyn

8
Sergio Parisse

9
Marcello Violi

10
Tommaso Allan

11
Mattia Bellini

12
Tommaso Castello

13
Tommaso Boni

14
Tommaso Benvenuti

15
Matteo Minozzi

RESERVES

16
Leonardo Ghiraldini

17
Andrea Lovotti

18
Tiziano Pasquali

19
Federico Ruzza

20
Maxime Mbanda

21
Edoardo Gori

22
Carlo Canna

23
Jayden Hayward

PREVIEW: Ireland v Italy

Fri, 09 Feb 2018 06:44

SIX NATIONS ROUND TWO: Ireland host Italy in the Six Nations on Saturday with the hosts seeking to make it two wins from two after Johnny Sexton's dramatic overtime drop goal sealed a 15-13 win over France last Saturday.

Ireland are hot favourites to win but with the Six Nations expected to go down to the wire, earning a bonus point for scoring four tries is a must - particularly given England did it against the Azzurri last week. Ireland were the only side not to score a try last weekend and head coach Joe Schmidt is asking for patience from fans if the tries don't come early this time.

"I remember four years ago when we won the championship by points-differential, we scored 19 points [against Italy] in the last six minutes," said Schmidt. "If the crowd can be patient, maybe we can do something similar."

Perhaps emblematic of the strength in depth the Irish have developed under Schmidt is the back row. A few years ago losing Sean O'Brien and his replacement Josh van der Flier would have provoked panic stations. Instead, Dan Leavy proved himself in the heat of battle in Paris and gets his first Six Nations start alongside Leinster teammate Jack Conan, who is in at No.8 for Christiaan Stander. Schmidt believes their introduction will not unbalance the back row.

"Peter O'Mahony brings leadership and experience and the two young lads will bring enthusiasm and hunger," said Schmidt. Italy's old warhorse captain and No.8 Sergio Parisse may have a thing or two to say about that.

Conor O'Shea has drawn plaudits from the likes of Eddie Jones and Schmidt for his stewardship of Italy, the poisoned chalice of the Six Nations. Even experienced coaches Nick Mallett and Jacques Brunel failed to engender a significant improvement in Italy's results.

O'Shea will hope his team can give a good enough showing in front of his compatriots on Saturday that come the time 52-year-old Schmidt moves on - his Ireland contract runs till next year's World Cup - the Italy coach's name will figure among the main contenders to succeed him.

Veteran Ireland fullback Rob Kearney has been the undisputed first choice for Leinster and Ireland for the past few years, but 20-year-old Jordan Larmour is starting to make some noise.

With the World Cup a year away, his charge is coming at the right time. O'Shea made no bones about how he sees Larmour.

"He reminds me of a young Christian Cullen (All Black) because I haven't seen someone who can step off both feet like that," said O'Shea, a former Ireland fullback himself.

"I couldn't even step off one foot, I just ran straight the whole time! He is box office, isn't he?"

Schmidt has no doubts about Larmour's ability under the high ball or work rate and insists his selection is not a risk.

"To be honest you don't select a player to be looked after as he should have an expectation of what is expected of him," said Schmidt.

Should Italy suffer another heavy defeat on Saturday it will raise more questions as to whether Georgia should replace them in the Six Nations. Italy and O'Shea can point to a largely laudatory performance against England, but the fact is they still shipped points in the final quarter. Whilst Six Nations chiefs have thus far resisted calls for Georgia to replace them, the clamour would grow if the Georgians beat Italy in a scheduled November Test.

Players to watch:

For Ireland: Jonathan Sexton proved once again that he is a match-winner and he is expected to run the show at the Aviva Stadium. Sexton's halfback partner Conor Murray is a force behind the ruck and his decision-making is world class. Lock Devin Toner is a colossus up front and in the line-out, while prop Tadhg Furlong is a powerful scrummager and he is not afraid to play with the ball in open play.

For Italy: Centre Tommaso Boni was outstanding out wide against England and he could give Ireland some trouble with his big frame. Flyhalf Tommaso Allan is a much better playmaker in the No.10 jersey than Carlo Canna. His offloads and passes unlocked the English defence on a few occasions. Captain and No.8 Sergio Parisse will be looking for a big performance after his poor showing against England.

Head to head: With Jonathan Sexton and Tommaso Allan in the No.10 jerseys there should be some exciting attacking play from both teams, but Sexton's experience will probably overshadow the Italian. The battle in the midfield will be an intriguing one with talented Robbie Henshaw and Bundee Aki up against Tommaso Boni and Tommaso Castello.

Date: Saturday, February 10Venue: Aviva Stadium DublinKick-off: 14.15 (15.15 Italian time; 14.15 GMT)Expected weather: It will be wet with showers expected. There will be a high of 12°C and a low of 0°CReferee: Romain Poite (France)Assistant referees: Pascal Gaüzère (France), Matthew Carley (England)TMO: David Grashoff (England)

Agence France-Presse & rugby365com

Ireland teaches Azzurri a harsh lesson

Sat, 10 Feb 2018 14:00

SIX NATIONS REPORT: Ireland showed Italy exactly how much ground they have to make up to be competitive in the Test arena.

The margin of the 56-19 (eight tries to three) victory was perhaps a bit flattering to the Azzurri scored all their tries in the last 25 minutes - when the Irishmen took their collective feet off the gas.

There will be a concern in the Ireland camp over the injuries of to Robbie Henshaw (elbow) and Tadhg Furling (hamstring).

They will be massive losses if they are ruled out for any length of time.

The win made it a ninth successive Test victory for Joe Schmidt's side and inflicted a 14th consecutive Six Nations defeat on the Italians, which equals their worst ever run in the competition they joined in 2000.

Credit to the Italians. They continued playing - instead of throwing in the towel - even after they went down 0-42.

"It was good at times. The first half we started really well but in the second half we were a bit sloppy and forcing things rather than sticking to our gameplan," Keith Earls, the scorer of Ireland's fourth try, said.

"We're happy but we'll always find something to work on. We scored some really good tries and a few from turnovers."

Italy for their part fought to the end, scoring three second-half tries but slipped to their 14th successive Six Nations defeat, equalling their previous worst run in the tournament.

Ireland made their intentions clear early on as Johnny Sexton went for touch instead of the posts, but the Italians managed to hold Conor Murray up as he crossed the line.

However, there was nothing the Italian defence could do to prevent Henshaw going over from a few metres out for his third Test try - Sexton converting for 7-0.

Three minutes later and Jack Conan marked his first Six Nations start with a lovely offload to Murray who was given a free run to the line for his 11th Test try - Sexton converted superbly from the touchline to give the Irish a 14-0 lead after a quarter of an hour.

The Italians were left shell-shocked when Bundee Aki crashed over to mark the 27-year-old New Zealand-born centre's first try for his adopted country leaving the Irish just one try short of their bonus point aim with only 20 minutes gone.

Aki then turned creator as he made a terrific break to set up wing Earls to go over and seal the bonus point, Sexton's conversion sending the Irish in 28-0 up at the break.

Henshaw added his second try early in the second-half but landed in obvious agony on his shoulder, his leg beating against the ground through the pain. But that opened the way for the much-anticipated Test debut of 20-year-old Jordan Larmour.

Sexton converted for the fifth time but alongside man of the match, Murray was withdrawn on 50 minutes.

That didn't stop the onslaught as Rory Best went over and Joey Carbery added the conversion.

However, with the game long gone the Italians found some spark and Tommaso Castello got the better of Dan Leavy to release Tommaso Allan with the fly-half going over and converting his try to put Italy on the scoreboard with just over 20 minutes to go.

The Irish, though, went over for another touchdown as Stockdale came in from his wing and took Carbery's pass to score.

The visitors struck back with a second try as old warhorse Sergio Parisse's pass was eventually gathered by Edoardo Gori, who went over.

Stockdale then scored a superb solo try, outstripping Jayden Hayward to touch down in the corner.

The visitors at least had the last laugh in terms of scoring as fullback Matteo Minozzi rounded off a move in the corner.

Man of the match: There are choices aplenty. However, Bundee Aki and Robbie Henshaw, with their pace and power, caused the Italian defence enormous nightmares. Henshaw may have scored two tries, but Aki caused most of the damage.